Philip Doddridge (1702-1752) Many today think of Philip Doddridge only as the writer of 'O happy day', 'Hark! The glad sound' and a few other lesser known hymns. The many other qualities and achievements of this godly man are almost unknown. It is well over 300 years since Philip Doddridge was born…
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Of all Doddridge's hymns, O God of Bethel is probably the best known. It was one of his earliest hymns, being written in 1731. The original manuscript still exists, and is headed 'Jacob's vow', the theme being derived from the patriarch's first encounter with God. The version of the hymn most commonly sung is…
Read more the hymns of Philip Doddridge (3) by Alan Clifford When James Montgomery said, 'Blessed is the man that can take the words of this hymn and make them his own from similar experience', he was speaking of the ever-popular O happy day, that fixed my choice. The hymn takes its inspiration from the Old…
Read more Before turning to some examples of Doddridge's hymnography, we should pause to consider his technique. Unlike the endless variations of metre employed by Charles Wesley, Doddridge's compositions are, in the main, restricted to common (CM), short (SM) and long (LM) metres. This was not because Doddridge lacked imagination but because of the limited range…
Read more the hymns of Philip Doddridge by Alan Clifford The observant worshipper will soon discover the hymns of Philip Doddridge. Indeed, for the vast majority of people, singing his hymns brings their first acquaintance with the author. Even now, 300 years after his birth, most Christians have sung ‘O God of Bethel’ or ‘Hark the…
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Dr Philip Doddridge’s dates (1702-51) provide us with two contiguous anniversaries: the 250th anniversary of his death falls this year (26 October) and the tercentenary of his birth next year (26 June). But why should we hold a celebration at all? With regard to worship, the first reason is obvious. The hymnbooks of many…
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